Tribunal Issues Big Bans After Spiteful End To Dev League Decider

After nasty events in the last seconds of Saturday's Development League grand final between North Hobart and North Launceston, the TSL panel has made a statement by issuing substantial bans. You can check out the charges here.

After horrific scenes in which numerous punches were thrown in the last seconds of Saturday's Development League grand final between North Hobart and North Launceston at North Hobart Oval, the TSL tribunal has dished out huge punishments. The match was between North Hobart and North Launceston.

Bomber Coby Chugg was given a seven-week sabbatical after accepting the early guilty plea for four different episodes of striking, while North Launceston's Jasper French and North Hobart's skipper Hugh Williams were both handed eight week suspensions for striking.

After the Demons had already won the game by ten points with just seconds left to play, players from both teams began to argue with each other, and French struck Lachlan Payne in the process.

Payne lay on the floor for a while before he started to feel better.

After receiving the best on ground medal, Williams lashed out and punched Jasper French.

The severity of the collision and the amount of contact in both cases was deemed to be "intentional."

Adding a discretionary grand final loading of 60% to French's five-match ban, the panel stated that 'the tribunal felt eight matches a suitable sentence after all aspects of this incident were reviewed.'

After pleading guilty to his accusation, which was brought immediately to the tribunal, Williams was also given 60% loading.

According to the evidence, French lost consciousness after the collision.

Chugg admitted guilt on all four counts, cutting his ban from 13 games to 7.

- intentionally striking North Hobart player-coach Brad Tilbury;

- abusive language towards or in relation to an umpire;

- two separate charges for intentionally striking Trent Millhouse

Cooper Leek, from North Hobart, pleaded guilty and accepted a reprimand for trying to strike Brad Rickard, also from North Launceston;

The tribunal found insufficient evidence to uphold the sentence against North Hobart's Josh Cleaver, who was reported for allegedly engaging in aggressive conduct with French.

- Brad Rickard, of North Launceston, admitted guilt and accepted a reprimand after being accused with attempting to strike Cooper Leek, also of North Launceston.

After admitting responsibility, French was reprimanded for spitting in North Hobart's Finlay Poke's face.

Because "spittle had not made contact with Poke," the panel found that "spitting at another player was a low level offence."

After the game, Demons coach Tilbury expressed sadness about the late-game incidents that spoiled the team's first Development League championship.

Payney (Lachlan Payne) has been putting in work all day, and he's one of those up-and-coming players who always does things the right way. I didn't see it, but whatever happened, happened," he remarked of his opponent getting hit late in the match.

Having it end that way is a bummer for both teams, but thankfully Lachie came out of it unscathed.

A few of our guys showed up to back up the cheap shot. Regrettably, it occurred late in the contest.

Bomber Nathan Pearce was banned for two games for "intentional or careless forceful contact" on Tiger Nic Baker in the TSL grand final between Kingborough and North Launceston.

After Pearce's guilty plea, the charge was not reduced to careless touch but remained the same.